I think for Sony (and every major) a vynil is more expensive to release than a CD. Maybe a collector vynil could be relesed but after a CD or a download version with some success. And a lot of people have no more vynil turntable.

I'd go for a Collector's vinyl release followed by a Deluxe Edition cd with a written essay/history of the project and like Pocat suggests, possibly some original cover artwork or pictures of Mathis & Chic in the studio, etc.

I am amazed how strong the songs are and how good they sound too. You really would have to remember how the pop charts and the soul/R&B music scene was at that time in '81. In the UK the pop charts were very varied-Human League, Spandau Ballet, Adam & The Ants, Bucks Fizz(!), New Romantics et al. Kool & The Gang were soul/disco's only act consistently hitting the pop charts. In the US MOR by the likes of Dolly Parton, Christopher Cross, Lionel Richie's duet with Diana-"Endless Love", AOR by Daryl Hall & John Oates, REO Speedwagon ruled the airwaves & charts. Then you have the Johnny Mathis set. Standing on its own as there would have been nothing else out there sounding quite like it. I think Columbia did not have a clue how to begin to market it. It wasn't disco, dance, Hi-energi or even comparable to the pop music of the time. It definitely wasn't middle of the road!

It's apparent to me, that because it didn't fit into a neat category/box they thought it'd be easier just to bury it. This set in hindsight for me would have been groundbreaking if released at the time simply because it would have pre-dated Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson and others by about 3 years. I just can't get over the sound, the production. Nile & 'Nard were truly excited about this one. For me they pulled out all the stops.

Think about it. Their arrangements and the songs have moved on a lot since "Diana". This would have been such an influential set. Come On Columbia. Music of all forms is now widely popular despite attempts in the past to categorise & market music and artists to seperate audiences. You're sitting on a goldmine here and I think you under-estimate the level of interest out there for this. I gaurantee it would sell better than any other reissues you've got ready to re-release in the next few months. You got cold feet before in 1981. Now, Do The Right Thing and release this. Heck, you could put Mathis & Nile on any chat show-Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres' Show to help promote it. Nile's the most entertaining talker and has so many stories in him. They could probably duet! Nile on guitar and Mathis' voice... It really wouldn't be that hard if you thought about it. Just do a little market research to test audience reaction. The Time Is Now. Do it already.

These songs are ridicuolous -- Sony I will buy 3 copies alone! Release the magic!

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